Florida opens its season against Miami on Saturday night. Here are several key positional matchups to keep an eye on as the Gators and Hurricanes renew their rivalry.
Battles on both lines
In 2017, UF quarterbacks were sacked 37 times, which was one of the worst marks in the nation. A season ago, that number dropped to 18, one of the best in the country. But the majority of the unit responsible for that improvement is gone.
Four of the five starters from last season’s offensive line have left, with only center Nick Buchanan returning. The new group assigned with keeping quarterback Feleipe Franks upright is not necessarily young, but has limited playing experience besides Buchanan and Brett Heggie.
The Gators’ greenest position unit is matched up against one of the Hurricanes’ stronger units: its defensive line. Miami returns two starters up front — Jonathan Garvin and Pat Bethel — who pose a serious challenge to Florida’s less experienced offensive line.
UM’s offensive line is younger but more experienced than UF’s. The Hurricanes are starting Zion Nelson, a true freshman left tackle, along with three other underclassmen on the offensive line. This group will have the job of attempting to keep Jabari Zuniga and Louisville graduate transfer Jon Greenard away from redshirt freshman quarterback Jaren Williams.
Both teams’ defensive lines will look to exploit the inexperience of the other’s offensive line. Like in most football games, the team that controls the line of scrimmage will control the game, with perhaps even more of a focus on dominating the line in this particular matchup.
Jarren Williams vs. Florida’s secondary
Williams has thrown just three passes in his career. All of those attempts came in a blowout win over Savannah State a year ago. Florida’s secondary will pose a much greater challenge than the Tigers did a season ago.
The Gators' defensive backs are led by CJ Henderson. The sophomore cornerback was named to the Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list for the nation’s best defensive back. Marco Wilson, who starts opposite Henderson at cornerback, missed almost all of last season with a torn ACL, but is returning to a secondary that will look to make up for a lack of depth with sheer talent.
Luckily for Williams, the ‘Canes return their top two pass catchers from 2018: wide receiver Jeff Thomas and tight end Brevin Jordan. The freshman play-caller will likely lean on those two veteran targets, but Henderson and Wilson, along with whoever UF opts to go with at the safety positions, should limit Miami’s ability to move the ball through the air.
Florida’s receivers vs. Miami’s secondary
Receiver may be Florida’s deepest, strongest position group. The Gators return all of their top pass catchers from a season ago and have at least seven receivers capable of making an impact. Senior wideout Van Jefferson leads the receivers unit and is joined by Tyrie Cleveland, Josh Hammond, Trevon Grimes and Jacob Copeland.
But Miami’s linebacking corps led by Michael Pinckney and Shaquille Quarterman will attempt to clog up the middle of the field and force Franks to find his playmakers outside the hash marks or down the field. Established UM corner Trajan Bandy leads the defensive backs and is the only returning starter in the unit. However, safeties Gurvan Hall Jr. and Amari Hall both saw playing time a season ago.
The Hurricanes allowed the fewest passing yards per game (135.6) in the nation in 2018. Florida’s 213.5 passing yards per game was only 82nd. Franks will need to find the holes in UM’s secondary to open up the passing game and stay clear of its highly touted linebackers. And his ability to do so depends on the time the offensive line can afford him in the pocket and his ability to extend plays.
Follow Kyle Wood on Twitter @Kkylewood. Contact him at kwood@alligator.org.
Redshirt senior receiver Van Jefferson led the Gators in receiving yards (503) and receiving touchdowns (6) last season. He faces a Miami secondary that only returns one starter on Saturday.
